Window regulator



Jan. 7, 1958 J. T. HADWIN, JR 2,819,066

WINDOW REGULATOR Filed Aug. 11, 1955 s, 'J.7THAOW/N,JR.

IN VEN T OR.

KW [a m A T TORNEVS United States Patent WINDOW REGULATOR John T. Hadwin, In, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MiCiL, a corporation of Delaware Application August 11, 1955, Serial No. 527,804

Claims. (Cl. 268-1 26) This invention relates generally to window regulators for'motor vehicles, and has particular reference to window regulator mechanism adapted to control the movement of a vehicle window in a predetermined combined vertical and horizontal path.

An object of the present invention is to provide a window regulator for a motor vehicle which is arranged to initially move the window a short distance rearwardly and to subsequently move the window generally downwardly, to clear a body pillar or other obstruction. The present construction attains this objective with a structure which is economical to manufacture and assemble and which does not require the use of curved guideways or other complicated structures.

In an embodiment of the invention, a cross arm type of regulator is provided, but instead of having both regulator arms connected to horizontal guideways at the bottom of the window, one arm is connectedto a guideway and the other is pivotally connected to a fixed pivot point on the window frame. The arm connected to the horizontal guideway is pivotally connected at its opposite end to a short link which in turn is pivotally mounted upon tr e vehicle body in such manner as to guide the adjacent end of the regulator arm in a predetermined angular path initially inclined downwardly and rearwardly and finally moveable in a generally rearward direction during the final lowering movement of the window.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

The single figure is a side elevational view of a window regulator mechanism incorporating the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 11 indicates a motor vehicle window having a frame 12. The lower rail 13 of the window frame 12 is formed adjacent its forward portion with a downwardly depending flange 14 provided with a horizontally extending slot 16. The lower rail 13 of the window frame is also formed with a smaller downwardly depending flange 17 located between the longitudinal center of the window and the rearward end thereof.

A regulator bracket 18 is fixedly mounted upon the vehicle body and rotatably supports a toothed quadrant 19 pivoted thereto at 21. A driving pinion 22 meshes with the toothed quadrant 19 and is suitably actuated either by means of a manual handle or a power motor drive in conventional fashion.

A regulator arm 23 is formed integrally with the quad rant 19 and in the raised position of the window extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. Adjacent its upper end the regulator arm 23 is pivotally connected to the depending flange 17 of the window frame by means of a pivotal connection 24.

Intermediate its ends the regulator arm 23 is formed with a tab 26 offset from the plane of the arm and pivotally connected at the pivot point 27 to an intermediate point of a second regulator arm 28. The second regu- 2,819,066 Patented Jan. 7, 1958 .2 later arm 2'8 carries a roller 29 sli dably received within the horizontal guideway 16 at the forward end of the lower rail 13" of the window frame. In theraisedp'osi tion' of the window the regulator arm" 2 8 isinclined downwardly and rearwardlyand at its lowerend' is pivotally connected at 31 tothe lowerend of a short-link 32. The link 32 is inclined upwardly and rearwa'rdly from its pivotal connection 31 with the regulator arnrand at its upperend is pivotally'conneeteda-t 33to the vehicle body.

-Toillustrate the pathof movem'ent- -of the window 11' the pathsof movement of various points of the mechanisrn are shown; For example, the line 34 illustrates the path of the lower forward corner 34'- of the window frame 12, while the line=36" illustrates thepath of the lower rearward corner 36 of the window frame. Similarly, the line 29 shows the path of movement of the roller 29 at the upper e'nd of the-regulator arm- 28', while the line 31' shows the path of movement of the pivotal connection 31 between the regulator arm 28 and the short link 32.

It will be noted that thepivotal connection 31 between tha regulator arm 28 and the-short link 32 swings in an are 31' about the" point 33, with'its initial movement, when the window is being lowered, being inclined downwardly and rearwardly, while the path of movement of the pivot 31 during. the middle portion of the lowering movement of the windowbeing generally horizontally rearwardly, and with its final movement being a return movement in a forward direction. The link 52 thus controls. the path 29" of the roller 29 at the upper end of the regulator arm in such manner as to provide an initial rearward movement and a subsequent downward move,- ment in a substantially vertical line. This initial rearward movement of the roller 29, in combination with the immediate downward movement along the path 24' of the pivotal connection 24 between the regulator arm 23 and the window frame 13, results in fulcruming the window frame about the roller 29 and maintaining the forward corner 24 thereof in a raised position until the window has moved rearwardly a distance sufficient to clear an obstruction such as a pillar shown in fragmentary fashion 37. In fact, at point 1 on the path of movement 34' of the forward corner of the Window the corner has actually been raised by the combined action described above. At point 2 the forward corner 34 has returned to a position generally in horizontal alignment with its initial stalting point and thereafter the forward corner is moved in a curved path downwardly and rearwardly through points 3, 4 and 5, and thereafter the corner 34 is moved generally vertically downwardly.

The upward movement of the window as it is raised follows the reverse path, and it will be seen that link 32 is instrumental in providing the proper control of the window to determine a path for the forward portion of the window suitable to clear body components.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing form the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a window control mechanism for raising and lowcring a window in a motor vehicle body, a regulator gear pivotally mounted upon the body, an actuating arm having its lower end movable with said regulator gear and its upper end pivotally connected to the lower edge of said window rearwardly of the center thereof, a second arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends to an intermediate part of said actuating arm, a horizontal guideway at the lower edge of said window forwardly of the center thereof, means slidably connecting the forward end of said second arm to said guideway, 21 short link having its lower end pivotally connected to the lower end of said second arm, means pivotally connecting the upper end of said link to said body at a point spaced rearwardly and above the connection of said link to said second arm to etfect an initial rearward movement of the upper end of said second arm and a subsequent downward movement thereof to move the forward portion of the window first generally rearwardly and then generally downwardly.

2. The structure defined by claim 1 which is further characterized in that said actuating arm and said second arm diagonally cross each other in the raised position of the window to form generally an X-shape, said short link being so positioned that the pivotal connection between the short link and said second arm moves in an arc diagonally downwardly and rearwardly during the initial lowering movement of the window and subsequently moves generally rearwardly during the lowering movement of said window.

3. In a window control mechanism for raising and lowering a window in a motor vehicle body, a pair of regulator arms pivotally interconnected intermediate their ends and each pivotally connected at one end to said window at spaced points, means pivotally connecting the opposite end of one of said regulator arms to said vehicle body, regulator mechanism connected to one of said regulator arms to raise and lower said window, and means guiding the opposite end of the other of said regulator arms in a predetermined path having an initial generally downward travel and a subsequent longitudinal travel during the lowering of said window.

4. The structure defined by claim 3 which is further characterized in that said means comprises a link pivotally connected at spaced points to said vehicle body and to the said opposite end of the said other regulator arms, said link extending diagonally upwardly and longitudinally away from the pivotal connection of said one regulator arm to said vehicle body.

5. In a window control mechanism for raising and lowering a window in a motor vehicle body, a pair of regulator arms pivotally interconnected intermediate their ends and crossing each other in X fashion in the raised position of said window, regulator mechanism connected to one of said regulator arms to raise and lower said window, means pivotally connecting one end of one of said regulator arms to the lower portion of said window at a fixed point, means pivotally connecting the opposite end of said one regulator arm to said vehicle body at a fixed point, means connecting one end of the other of said regulator arms to the lower portion of said window for longitudinal sliding movement therealong, and a link movably supporting the opposite end of said other regulator arm upon said vehicle for movement in a predetermined path, said link having its lower end pivotally connected to said last mentioned regulator arm and its upper end pivotally connected to said vehicle body, said link extending diagonally upwardly and longitudinally away from the pivotal connection of said one regulator arm to said vehicle body in the raised position of said window to move said last mentioned pivotal connection first in an are generally downwardly and longitudinally and subsequently generally longitudinally in the lowering movement of said window.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,131,745 Morrison Oct. 4, 1938 2,144,539 Lane Ian. 17, 1939 2,410,363 Roethel Oct. 29, 1946 2,544,451 Floraday Mar. 6, 1951 2,746,747 Lautenbach a May 22, 1956 Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 89,396 involving Patent No. 2,819,066, J. T. Hadwin, Jr., Window regulator, final judgment adverse to the patentee was rendered January 21, 1959, as to claims 1, 2, and 4.

[Ofiicz'al Gazette March 3, 1.959.] 

